Vulcanizer with wedge lock



Oct. 11, 1932. J JENNEJOHN 1,881,628

VULCANIZER WITH WEDGE LOCK Filed Feb. 6. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 (75500 Jnne bhm 081. 11, 1932. J. JE-NNEJOHN 1,881,628

VULCANIZER WITH WEDGE LOCK Filed Feb. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ILEZ fig JOhiZ Janrze 'afim Oct. 11, 1932. J. JENNEJOHN VULCA NIZEH WITH WEDGE LOCK Filed Feb. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm NW. R is \w w L 1 mm x. F W a \m 0 m \f V57 f07an (fen/2e 'o zib,

O 11, 1932- J. JENNEJOHN VULCANIZER WITH WEDGE LOCK Filed Feb. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V5 f0hm (fawn/ 5 072? Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN JENNEJ'OHN, OF GUDAHY, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T UTILITY MANUFACTURING 00., OF CUDAHY, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN VULCANIZER WITH WEDGE LOCK I Application filed. February 6, 1930. Serial No. 426,248.

This invention relates to an improved vulcanizer, and more particularly to a vulcanizer for tires, tubes, and the like, having centrally disposed wedge operated locking means.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved vulcanizer with simplified and more powerful central clamping or locking means for holding the cooperable mold parts or sections of the vulcanizer in engagement with each other duringthe vulcanizing operation.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of improved clamping means operable by fluid under pressure and of such construction that the pressure of the fluid may be utilized with maximum efliciency in the clamping of the'mold parts in cooperation.

, A further object of the inventionhas to do with the provision of wedge operated clamp-- ingmeans for a pair of cooperable vulcanizer parts arranged to operate centrally of the mold parts, whereby the clamping pressure may be utilized with maximum efliciency.

In accordance with the general features of my invention, there is provided a vulcanizer comprising a pair of cooperable annular mold parts, one of which is movable into and out of cooperation with the other by fluid operated means, and centrally disposed clamping means for clamping and locking the mold parts in cooperation during the vulcanizing operation, and operable by fluid pressure ac: tuated wedge means arranged to insure maxi: mum utilization of the fluid pressure in effective clamping pressure, whereby a relatively small fluid pressure cylinder and piston may be used for accomplishing the desired. clamping action.

Another feature of the invention relates to the construction of the wedge means for {actuating the centrally disposed clamping decreasing the wear and tear of the vulcanizing press incident to the operation of the clamping mechanism.

A still further feature of the invention relates to the provision of a novelly supported rotary central clamping member for the vulcanizer and the means for rotating the same to release'the mold parts of the vulcanizer from engagement with each other after the fluid operated pressure has been taken off of the central clamping member.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a vulcanizer embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the vulcanizer.

' Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4: is a vertical sectional view through a vulcanizer with a modified form of clamping mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on the line VV of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a plan view partly in section, taken on the line VIVI of Figure 4, looking downwardly, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of- Figure 1, looking downwardly, showing the arrangement of the modified form of wedge operated clamping means.

As shown on the drawings.

The reference character 10 designates generally the bed or lower platen of the vulcanizer on which is supported cooperable mold sections 11 and 12, (Figures 1, 2 and 3). These mold sections or halves are shaped to cooperate with each other to define a molding cavity of the same configuration as the article to be vulcanized. In the illustration of my invention I have shown these sections as being formed to receive a tire tube to be vulcanized. Each of these sections are steam jacketed in a manner well-known to those familiar with the present art. The lower section 11 is suitably fastened to the bed and the upper section is adapted to be suitably fastened to the movable top plate or upper platen 13 of the press.

p The top plate 13 is provided with a lateral extension 14, igures 1 and 2) which is hingedly connected by means of a pin 15 to spaced a r1ns 1616 secured to-the bed 1O.

The plate 13 isadapted to be raised away from the bed 10 by means of a fluid operated piston 17 disposed in a cylinder 18-, pivotally connected by means of a pin 19 to the spaced arms 16. The piston 17 is connected to the lower end of a piston rod 20 which has its upper end pivotally connected by means of a pin 21 to the extension 14 on the head plate 13. Obviously, when fluid pressure is applied to the piston 17 this piston will not only function to raise the head 13 away from the bed 10 but will also cause the cylinder 18 to pivot about the axis of pin 19 as the head is raised.

The bed 10 is pivotally connected by means of pins 22 to the upper ends of a pair of spaced legs or standards 23 for supporting the bed 10land all of the mechanism connected thereto. This arrangement for supporting the bed lO'enables the vulcanizer to be swung U to any desired'angle dependingxupon the type fter the press;

of article being vulcanized" has been pivoted to the desired. angle, a' bar 25 is inserted between one of the legs 23 and the bed 10 and suitably anchored to these two members. Obviously, by using different length bars 25., it is possible to vary the angle at which the vulcanizing apparatus is supported with reference to the floor on which the standards 23 are disposed.

The underside of the bed 10 is provided with an enlargement 28 through which eX- tends a clamping rod 29 having splined to its upper end a clamping ring 30 provided withlaterally extending lugs 31. These lugs as shownin Figure 2 are illustrated as being three in number which are equi-distantly spaced from'each other. The clamping ring 30 and'its lugs 31 are disposed within a tube 32 formed integral with the top plate 13 of the vulcanizer. The lower end of the tube 32 is provided with three equi-distantly spaced lugs 33 adapted to be engaged by the lugs when the sleeve 30 is rotated to its clamping position shown in Figures 1 and 2. When the sleeve is rotated out offits clamping position, as will be more fully described hereinafter, the clamping lugs 31 are brought into register with the spaces between the lugs 33 on the tube 32 whereby the plate 13 may be raised to its opened operated piston 17.

Surrounding the rod 29 between the ring 30 and the enlargement 28 is a spring 65 position the fluid which is adapted to support the weight of the clamping rod and parts connected thereto when the lugs 31 are not clamped in contact with lugs 33 by fluid pressure.

The lower end of the clamping rod 29 is provided with a square head .35 which is engageable by spaced lateral arms 37 of the levers .36. These levers 36 are fourin num ber as shown in Figure 3 and since they are all identical in construction a description of one will suffice for all. V

Each of the levers 36 has its upper end rounded olf and provided with a semi-circular groove 38 for fitting around a pin40 which also engages in a semi-circular groove 42 in a ring-like plate 41, splined to clamping rod 29 and disposed-in a suitable recess in the bottom of the enlargement 28 on base 10. The lower end of each lever 36'is bifurcated as indicated at 42 and has pivotally secured to'this bifurcated end a roller 43 carried on pivot pin 44 connected'to. the legs of the bifurcated end of the lever. These rollers are adapted to ride on the conical surfaces of a wedging cone which-will be more ing the four spaced portions 48 also has se cured-to it a handle 50, (Figure 3) by which the clamping mechanism may be manually rotated to move the lugs 31 into and out of register or alignment with the lugs 33'.

The cone is loosely carried on top of a piston 54 movable in a cylinder 55 suspended from the enlargement 28 by means offour rods 56 to which the flange 57 on the cylinder 55 is bolted. I

The previously mentioned cone 45 is positioned on and movable with the piston 54 and has two differently inclined conical surfaces 60 and 61 for cooperation with the four rollers 43. This wedgingcone as will become more apparent hereinafter, is avery impor tant feature of my invention.

The lower end of the cylinder 55 is connected to one end of a flexible fluid line 62, the.

other end of which is connected to a suitable and conventional manually operable valve mechanism for either venting cylinder'55 or supplying fluid under pressure thereto from a given source of fluid pressure. 7 v

The cylinder 18 also has aflexible fluid line 64 connected at one end of'it and having the other end connected to suitable manually operable valve mechanism for either venting cylinder 18 or connecting the source of fluid under pressure.

cylinder to a 1 7 er is as follows:

The operation of this form of vulcaniz- The head 13 of the vulcanizer is first raised by connecting the source of'fluid which may be air, steam or the like, to the cylinder 18 whereby the piston 17 is moved upwardly, thus moving the head 13 about the axis of its pivot 15. r I

During this operation the fluid in the cylinder 55 is being vented through the pipe line 62 so that thepiston 54 is brought to its lowermost position. Of course, it is to be appreciated that in order for the head 13 to be raised it is necessary that the handle 50 be operated so as to move the lugs 31 out of register with the lugs 33 and into alignment with the spaces between the lugs 33. The lever 50, however, can only be actuated when the pressure on the piston 54 has been relieved by the venting of the fluid from the cylinder 55.

The tube that is vulcanized is removed from the mold sections 11 and 12 after the head 13 is raised and a new tube to be vulcanized is placed in the lower section 11.

Then the fluid is vented from the cylinder 18, thus allowing the head to gradually lower back into its vulcanizing position.

The operator then rotates handle 50 to bring the lugs 31 into register with the lugs 33 and out of alignment with the spaces between the lugs, or in otherwords, brings the ring 30 into clamping position. The next step is to connect the pipe line 62 to the source of fluid pressure, thus causing the piston 54 to be forced upwardly.

It is, of. course, to be understood that the flow of fluid through the lines 62 and 64 is controlled by the operator by manipulating valve mechanism (not shown) associated with these air lines in the usual way.

. As the piston 54 moves upwardly, it moves with it the cone 45 which operates to spread the roller ends of the levers 36. It is to be noted that these levers rock about the pins or rollers disposed between the upper ends of the levers and the plate 41. Obviously, this pivotal movement of the levers results in the arms 37 pressing downwardly on the head 35 of the clamping rod 29, thereby drawing the lugs 31 into tight clamping engagement withthe lugs 33 to clamp the head 13 to the bed 10.

- By loosely mounting the cone on top of the piston 54, it enables the cone to slide and find its own center with respect to the four levers disposed therearound. It is to be noted as previously described, that the cone 45 is provided with two differently inclined conical surfaces and 61. The surface 60 which has the more abrupt angle of these two surfaces serves to position the lever and to take up the slack. Then as the rolls pass over the other conical surface 61, the real wedging action begins. In other words, it is the surface 61 which is in reality the wedging surface of the cone 45. Obviously, as the rollers ride over this surface they are wedged outwardly, thus wedging the arms 37 into tight engagement with the head 35 to draw it downwardly into clamping position.

The cone 45 as well as the rollers 43'may be hardened if it is so desired so as to increase their longevity.

After the vulcanizing operation has been completed the fluid is vented from the cylinder 55 through the pipe line 62. This causes the piston 54 and the cone 45 thereon to gravitate downwardly. The spring surrounding the rod 29 between the ring 30 and the enlar ement 28 of bed or platen 10 then becomes effective to move the upper end of the rod 29 including the ring 30 upwardly so that the lugs 31 no longer tightly press on the lugs 33. The operator may then turn the rod 29 by manipulating the lever 50. It is, of course, to be noted that the turning of the rod 29 also results in the levers 36 revolving with it. This movement of the handle 50 brings the lugs 31 into vertical alignment with the spaces between the lugs 33 whereby the head 13 may then be raised by the piston 17 and the previously described operation repeated.

In this vulcanizer of my invention it will be noted that with a leverage of 4 to 1 on the cone 45 and 2 to 1 on the arms 36 it is possible to get over 5400 pounds downward pull at the three lugs 31 when a cylinder 55 of eight inches in diameter is used and the piston in the cylinder is subjected to a fluid pressure of 125 pounds.

An outstanding feature of my invention is the use of levers 36 supported in such a man ner as to eliminate the necessity for pivot pins and in that way obviating the wear and tear incidental to the use of pivot pins. Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that with a vulcanizer of this construction it is possible to use a relatively small cylinder 55 to accomplish the desired clamping action.

Then, too, it is to be noted that the molded sections 11 and 12 cannot part more than of an inch even though all the pressure is vented from the cylinder 55, until the clamping rod 29 is rotated by the handle 50 to move the lugs 31 into vertical alignment with the spaces between the lugs 33.. It is only after this manipulation of the handle 50 that a full relief of the upper platen of the press may be accomplished.

In Figures 4 to 7 inclusive I have illustrated another embodiment of my invention in whi ch the reference character designates anchored.

other end to the bottom 78 of the vulcanizer on which the spaced standards 76 are ifixedly Obviously," by using different length bars-77 it is possible tova'ry the inclina'tion of the platen 75 with reference to the horizontal. i I r The platen. 75 has a pair of laterally extending arms 7 979 to which is pivotally connected the upper platen or head 80 of this vulcanizing press. The upper platen '80 is adapted to be raised by'means of a piston 81 Positioned between the two platens 7 and area pair of cooperable mold sections 77-78 which define an annular molding cavity adaptedto receive a tube to be vulcanized. The lower section is secured to the base platen 75' and the upper section 88is secured to the upper platen 80.

Secured to the underside of the platen 7 5 is a tube 90 which hasanchored to its lower end a fluid pressure cylinder 91 in which a piston 92 is movable; The extreme lower end of the cylinder 91 has connected to it a flexible pipe line 93 adapted to vent thecylinder and for connection to a source of fluid under pressure for raising the piston within the cylinder 91 to clamp the platen together .as will become more apparent with the progress of the pressuitably secured to clamping rod 102.

cured to this plate is a laterally extending ent description.

Position-ed within the tube 90 and loosely resting on top of the piston 92 is a cone 95 having twodifterently inclined conical surfaces 96 and97 for cooperation with rollers 98 carried by the lower ends of four spaced levers 99. v

Each of the levers 99 has its upper end formed into a laterally extending hook'100 for engaging a head 101 on the lower end of a central clamping rod 102 extending through an opening 72 in the base platen 75. Each of these hooks is formed with a curved upper surface 105 for engaging a curved surface 106 formed with an annular plate 107 handle 108 which projects through a'recess 109 (Figure 5) in the wall of tube 90. The

handle 108'is adapted to rotate the clamping rod 102 for puttingtherod into and out of clamping position.

" The cone 95 has a central bore 110 in which is disposed a spring 11 having its upper end ins-sneer;

rod 102 is -a"clampingring (Figures 4 "brought 'into register or in vertical alignment with diametrically disposed lugs 117 formed on the lower end of a tube 118 integralwith platen 80. Surroundingthe'rod 102 and disposed between the platen 7 5 and thejring 1'15 is'a spring 120 adapted to at all times urge the rod upwardly and the lugs 116 away from the lugs 117. v

The operation of this form of my invention is briefly as follows: 7 l 1 When the parts of the vulcanizer are in the position shown in Figures l and 6, the mold sections and platensof the vulcanizer will be clamped together due to the clamping action exerted bythe lugs 116 on the lugs 117.

After the vulcanizin operation has been completed the operator relieves the pressure within the piston cylinder 91 by venting the same through pipe line93, thus causing the piston 92 and the cone 95 to gravitate downwardly. The spring 111 then becomes efiective to force the clamping rod 102 in an upward directionso that the lugs 116 no longer tightly embrace the lugs 117 and thereby enabling theoperator to rotate the clamping mechanism connected to rod 102 by means of the handle 108. This limited rotation of the handle 108 results in the lugs 117' being brought outof register with the lugs 117 and into verticalialignment with the: spaces between the lugs wherebythe piston81 in cylinder 82 may then be brought into playit o raisethe top platen 88 to its uppermost position whereby the vulcanized tube may be removed from the mold sections 87 and 88 and a new tube placed therein. p a

Then the operator vents the fluid from the cylinder '82 through pipe line 86 allowing the platen 80 to gradually lower to its closed position. The next step for the operator to perform in order to clamp the platenstogether is to rotate the rod 102 by the handle 108 to bring the lugs 116 into verticalalignment with the lugs 117. Incidentally, it will be noted that normally when the ring '115 is not in clamping engagement withthe lugs 117 it is supported by the spring 120. Of course, since the ring 115 is connected to the rod 102 it necessarily follows that the spring 120 also supports the rod 102 and the clamping or wedging mechanism carried thereby including the levers and rollers.

To complete the clamping'operation the operator connects a suitable source of fluid under pressureto the pipe line 93 raising a the piston 92 and causing the cone 95 to spread the levers 99 apart whereby they force the rod 102 downwardly to clamp the platens together. These levers 99 are not supported by any pivot pins but are carried bythe head 101 and each of them is adapted to rock on the curved surface 106 of the ring 107. To open the press the previously described operation must be repeated.

During the upward movement of the cone by the piston the top conical surface 96 will tend to properly position the four arms 99 and will also talre up any slack between these parts. Thereafter, as the rollers 98 pass over the other conical surface 97 the rollers will be gradually wedged outwardly and the hooks 100 of the levers 97 will be forced downwardly to draw the clamping rod 102 and its rings into a wedged clamping position.

This modification of my vulcanizer has all of the advantages and features of my previously described modification of this vuloanizer with the exception that instead of having rollers for the levers 99 to rock about, the levers are provided with curves for engaging the curved surface 106 of the ring 107.

Now I desire it understood that although I have illustrated and described in detail the preferred embodiments of my invention, the invention is not to be thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vulcanizer, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members and fluid operated clamping means for holding them in cooperation comprising a centrally disposed rotary clamping member for engagement with one of said mold members, lever means supported solely by said clamping member, and fluid operated wedge means for actuating said lever means to draw said clamping member into tight cooperation with the associated mold member.

2. In a vulcanizer, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members, and fluid ope-rated clamping means for holding them in cooperation, comprising a centrally disposed rotary clamping member for engagment with one of said mold members, lever means cooperable with said clamping member and adapted to exert pressure on the same, and means for rotating said central member.

8. In a vulcanizer, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable 'mold members, and fluid operated clamping means for holding them in cooperation, comprising a centrally disposed rotary clamping member for engagement with one of said mold members, lever means cooperable with said clamping member, and fluid operated wedge means for actuating said lever means to draw said clamping member into tight cooperation with the associated mold member, said wedging means comprising a frusto-conical element arranged to be engaged by said lever means.

4c. In a vulcanizer, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members, and fluid operated clamping means for holding them in cooperation, comprising a centrally disposed rotary clamping member for engagement with one of said mold members, lever means cooperable with said clamping member, and fluid operated wedge means for actuating said lever means to draw said clamping member into tight cooperation with the associated mold member, said clamping member being arranged to be brought into and out of engagement with a portion of said associated mold member upon the rotation of said clamping member.

5. In a vulcanizer, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members, and fluid operated clamping means for holding them in cooperation, comprising a centrally disposed rotary clamping member for engagement with one of said mold members, lever means cooperable with said clamping member, fluid operated wedge means for actuating said lever means to draw said clamping member into tight cooperation with the as sociated mold member, and spring means for forcing said clamping member out of cooperation with the associated mold member upon the relieving of fluid pressure on said clamping member whereby said clamping member may be rotated out of effective clamping position to permit the separation of said mold members.

6. In a vulcanizer, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members, and fluid operated clamping means for holding them in cooperation, comprising a centrally disposed rotary clamping member for engagement with one of said mold members, lever means cooperable with said clamping member, and fluid operated wedge meansfor actuating said lever means to draw said clamping member into tight cooperation with the associated mold member, said clamping member having a portion formed to be engaged by said lever means so as to support said lever means, said lever means including a roller for engagement with said wedging means.

7. In a vulcanizer, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members, and fluid operated clamping means for holding them in cooperation, comprising a centrally disposed rotary clamping member for engagement with one of said mold members, lever means cooperable with said clamping member, and fluid operated wedge means for actuating said lever means to draw said clamping member into tight cooperation with the associated mold member, said wedging means comprising a frusto-conical element arranged to be engaged by said lever means and having two differently inclined conical wedging surfaces.

' 8. In a'vulcaniz'er, a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members, and means for clamping the mold members in coopera' tion comprising a clamping member, levers for cooperation with the same, and fluid op erated means for spreading the levers to move the clamping members into tight engagement with one of said mold members, said fluid operated means including wedge means having'two; differently inclined surfaces for co'- operation with said levers.

- 9. In a vulcanizer a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members and means for clamping the mold members in cooperation comprising a clamping member, a floating lever for cooperation With the same and fluid operated means for moving the lever into engagement with said member.

10. In a vulcanizer a pair of cooperable and relatively movable mold members and means for holding the mold members in cooperation comprising acentrally disposed clamping member, a floating lever for cooperation with the same and wedging means for pressing the lever into engagement with said member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribedimy name at Cudahy, Milwaukee" County, Wisconsin. 7

' JOHN J ENNEJOHNL 

